T&T Under-20 women’s volleyballers got off to a tough start at the eighth Norceca Continental Junior Championship after going under to four-time reigning champions and five-time winner USA in straight sets in their Group C encounter at the Gimnasio Polideportivo Espana, Managua, Nicaragua on Tuesday. The Americans led by Kadie Rolfzen’s 15 points, three of them aces and one block won 25-10, 25-10, 25-8 in 57 minutes against the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) champions.
Rolfzen’s sister, Amber, added nine points for the USA, while Mc Kenzie Willey got six and the trio of Merete Lutz, Haleigh Washington and Kayla Morin, four points each as the title-holders signalled their intentions to qualify for the FIVB 2013 World Championship.
For the Macsood Ali-coached T&T squad which is without four of its regular players, captain Makila York was the topscorer with four points while Reann Young had two, and Zahra Collins, one.  Speaking after the loss, York, whose team was outplayed in all aspects of the match and trailed 28-6 on spikes, 6-1 on blocks and 14-0 on service aces said: “We had some difficulties in our passing and things didn’t go our way; we had some highs during the match and we’ll practice on them so they can be more frequent.”  Ali, who led the national junior team to a ninth placed finish two years ago Mexico, after it ended eighth in 2008 and 2006 and, seventh in 2004, added: “We find ourselves in a very tough group. I said to my girls that even with a miracle, it’s impossible to beat USA and Cuba, so we’ll try our best and reach 15 points which didn’t happen today. Our passing broke down as they have a very tactical team.” Last night, T&T played third ranked Cuba, the 2000 winner and three-time third placed finisher in its other Pool C match, ahead of today’s final set of preliminary matches.
Also on Tuesday, fifth seeded Costa Rica defeated eighth ranked Antigua & Barbuda, the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association champions 25-9, 25-9, 25-7 in Pool A while in Pool B fourth ranked Mexico outclassed Guatemala 25-11, 25-11, 25-3. Today, Costa Rica and host Nicaragua meet in Pool A while Dominican Republic, second at the last four editions,  faces Mexico in Pool B while USA and Cuba meet in Pool C. At the end of the round-robin series, the best two top finishers from the three groups, based on points-ratio, will advance to the semifinals while the other group winner and three second placed teams will meet in the quarterfinals tomorrow. The best third placed finisher on points ratio from the three groups will play the winner of the other two third placed finishers for seventh spot. NS
Source: www.guardian.co.tt